720 children at Samara Heritage Cup tournament

GRAAFF-REINET SPORT NEWS - The 2021 Samara Heritage Day Cup was an unbelievable and heartwarming tournament during this Covid-19 year and 720 children took part.

Samara Private Game Reserve hosted this soccer and netball tournament with three different age groups in each sport.

There were 127 girls and young women playing in the netball tournament and 593 boys and young men in the soccer tournament. 47 teams participated in the three-day event that took place at the Collie Koeberg Stadium in Graaff Reinet with the finals played on Saturday 11 December.

It was a tournament to remember and an event that changed young lives. Young men and women played with passion and gratitude in having an opportunity to play sports and be healthy.

This year was extra special as each participant received brand new soccer boots and netball shoes. There were tears of joy and smiles all around and to experience it that was a real emotional and wonderful experience. Samara and every player were extremely grateful for this amazing gift from a very generous Friend of Samara.

This tournament was also hugely supported by local businesses in Graaff-Reinet and a few national organisations. Gift of the Givers donated a food parcel to each participant which consisted of a 10kg bag of maize meal, 2kg packet of noodles, a bag of pretzels, Royco soup, juice, milk and tinned fish. Graaff-Reinet Spar made sure that no player went hungry during the tournament by sponsoring 1500 boerewors rolls, oranges and biscuits.

Montego generously donated funds to make sure that each winning team in each age group received a trophy and a gold medal. Silver and bronze medals were awarded for the second and third-placed teams.

SANParks officials assisted and worked hand in hand with the Samara team, ensuring that all the food parcels reached the players at their homes and they also provided fresh drinking water during the tournament.

The Samara team dedicated their time and hard work to make this tournament a success. Anneley Swemmer, who has worked tirelessly with community leaders to create this event over the past four years, was there yet again to support and develop the youth in the Graaff-Reinet community. A huge effort went into the logistics run by Riaan Swemmer, ably supported by Ivan Marlouw, Rowin Benadie, Manie Benadie, Edwin Reid and Emmanual Arendse.

The successful Samara Heritage Day Cup 2021 was organised Anneley Swemmer (Community and Lodge Manager of Samara), Marnus Ochse (General Manager of Samara) and Sarah Tompkins (Director of Samara).

Birds United's soccer and netball players receive their new sport shoes from the sponsor before the start of the tournament.